New information about the segments of the North Anatolian Fault System in the Sea of Marmara
On August 17, 1999, Turkey experienced one of the biggest earthquakes of the last century. The 7.4 magnitude earthquake, whose epicenter was Gölcük, started at 03.02 and lasted 45 seconds. The earthquake was felt all over Marmara and even in Izmir and Ankara. Turkey suffered a great loss in the Marmara Earthquake. According to official statements, 17,840 people died and 43,953 people were injured. 285 thousand houses and more than 40 thousand workplaces were damaged in the earthquake.
TUBITAK started working immediately after the earthquake
After the August 17 Gölcük-İzmit Earthquake, TÜBİTAK MAM established intensive seismological and geodetic networks in the region and conducted aftershock studies. The results obtained were shared with relevant institutions and organizations.
Seismological network detected 13 kilometers from the epicenter of the earthquake
With the seismological and GPS observation networks established by the TÜBİTAK MAM Earth Science Research Group, important observations were made in the nearby areas before, during and after the earthquake. With the seismological network, precursor earthquakes were detected 13 kilometers from the epicenter of the earthquake. The results have made an impact in the international scientific community for the prediction of earthquakes.
After the August 17th Earthquake, the causes of the destruction in the Avcılar Region, which was most affected in Istanbul, were investigated. Soil-induced seismic amplification was revealed and necessary reports were made to public administration levels.
Research on the Expected Marmara Earthquake
Seismic hazard studies were conducted in Yalova, Kocaeli, Bursa and Balıkesir provinces and Avcılar, Silivri and Büyükçekmece districts in Istanbul.
Within the scope of the Post-Earthquake Emergency Observation Research (DEPAR) project, TÜBİTAK MAM conducts emergency earthquake observation studies immediately after all earthquakes above 6.0 in Turkey.
20 Seismology and 11 GPS observation stations installed
Current earthquake activity is monitored with a network of 20 seismological and 11 GPS observation stations.
After the August 17th Earthquake, earthquake monitoring studies in the Marmara Region continued. With Turkish-French-German cooperation, detailed fault investigations were carried out on the floor of the Marmara Sea and with onshore seismological networks. With the existing networks, TÜBİTAK MAM continues to monitor current seismological activity.
Within the scope of TÜBİTAK MAM's studies, new information was produced about the segments of the North Anatolian Fault System in the Marmara Sea.
3D tomographic velocity models of the region revealed
Within this framework, researchers of the TÜBİTAK MAM Earth Sciences Research Group have carried out sound master's and doctoral studies.
After the August 17th earthquake, two PhD studies were completed within the framework of the activities of our Research Group in the region. In the first study, seafloor seismometers and terrestrial seismological networks were used to determine the precise locations of earthquakes occurring on and near the North Anatolian Fault in the Marmara Sea area, and 3D tomographic velocity models of this region.
Earthquake-related deformations continued to be active in the region between 2002 and 2009
On the other hand, the August 17th earthquake stands out as one of the most important earthquakes in the world where ground deformations can be determined by monitoring the pre, during and aftermath of the earthquake with GPS. Another PhD study conducted within the Earth Sciences Research Group aimed to define the earthquake cycle from a geodetic perspective, with a special focus on the August 17th earthquake. In this study, valuable and site-specific data from continuous and campaign-style GPS stations were analyzed. With the results obtained, shear accumulations on the main fault branches in Marmara were identified. In the 2002-2009 post-earthquake period, it was revealed that the deformations of the August 17th earthquake continue to be active in the region and affect the whole Marmara region.
DEPAR - Post Earthquake Research Project
The project determines the nature of large earthquakes in Turkey and the local deformations they cause in the shortest possible time. The locations of aftershocks that occur after the main shock are determined with high precision. For this purpose, the "TÜBİTAK MAM Aftershock Research Team" performs the necessary measurements in the field and evaluates the data collected.
TÜBİTAK MAM's aftershock studies started with the 1992 Erzincan earthquake. Depar was designed as a continuous project in 2006 with the project name TUBITAK as the funding source. Currently, the third phase 2020-2024 period is ongoing.
TÜBİTAK MAM Conducts the Project for Determination of Paleoseismological Characteristics of Turkey's Resisting Faults
The Project for the Determination of Paleoseismological Characteristics of Turkey's Resilient Faults, which is supported under the TÜBİTAK 1007 Public Institutions Research and Development Projects Support Program and carried out under the management of TÜBİTAK MAM, was put into effect as of September 1, 2023.
TÜBİTAK-Marmara Research Center was the project manager of the project, MTA was the client institution and project manager, AFAD was the client institution, Union of Municipalities of Turkey was the supporting institution and General Directorate of Mapping provided geodetic data, digital maps and map information to the institutions involved in the project. More than 100 researchers and 90 scholarship holders from 22 universities, 14 of which were project executing organizations, AFAD and MTA took part in the project. On October 30, 2023, the presentation and signing ceremony of the "Research Platform for Determination of Paleoseismological Characteristics of Turkey's Resisting Faults" was held.
Scientists will determine the geometries of the live faults, the recurrence periods of earthquakes in the relevant fault segments, the dates of the last surface rupture, slip rates and information on the average amount of slip in each earthquake through analyses to be carried out in the TÜBİTAK MAM AMS Laboratory, which meets international standards and is sustainable with the most up-to-date methods and own resources. With the studies to be carried out, earthquake scenarios that may affect residential areas in the regions where live faults are located will be revealed. This study, which will contribute to the development of the databases of institutions, will be used as an important data source in updating the Earthquake Hazard Map of Turkey created by AFAD. The scientific outputs to be obtained with the established platform will enable the most realistic prediction of earthquakes, which are a danger factor in reducing earthquake hazards and risks and building the infrastructure of disaster-resilient cities, before they occur. It will provide data that will enable the minimization of earthquake damages that settlements will suffer against possible destructive earthquakes in regions with high population density. The graduate students to be trained within the scope of the project will also make a significant contribution to closing the paleoseismologist gap in our country.
TUBITAK takes a multi-dimensional approach to earthquake research
TUBITAK Research Support Programs Directorate (ARDEB) is conducting a "Special Call for 1001-Earthquake Research".
Through this call, it is envisaged to make maximum use of science and technology-based methods and studies in urbanization strategies, settlement decisions, construction models, architectural designs and planning in our country, as well as to contribute to interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary research to understand the risks and effects of earthquakes in the long term.
With the Special Call for Earthquake Research, 347 projects were proposed on topics such as innovative construction models and advanced materials; multifaceted earth science research; scenario, forecasting and analysis studies; robotic systems for search and rescue activities; and socio-economic and social impacts of earthquakes. 80 projects were supported.
Opened on March 01, 2023, the "Special Call for Universities in Earthquake Region - BINBİRÇABA" call aims to minimize the impact of the earthquake disaster on the research ecosystem in the relevant region. It was aimed to prevent researchers and students from staying away from research activities, to protect the accumulation of knowledge in these provinces by focusing on the needs in the region, and to increase the contributions of universities and researchers working in the earthquake region to the region and the provinces they are located in. Within the scope of the call, 1498 projects were proposed and 404 projects were supported.
In order to evaluate the progress of the projects supported so far within the scope of the Earthquake Research Call and 1002-C Natural Disasters Focused Fieldwork Emergency Support Program, to plan future studies and to increase the interaction between the projects, an event was organized to share the findings, goals achieved and anticipated contributions of the supported projects. On March 30, 2023, the opening speeches of the event were delivered by the Vice President, Minister of Industry and Technology, President of TÜBİTAK and President of AFAD.
TUBITAK and AFAD Plan to Organize Joint Earthquake Call
It was planned to organize a joint earthquake call with a co-financing model between TÜBİTAK and AFAD, and within the framework of the cooperation protocol signed between the two institutions, a special call titled "1001-UDAP National Earthquake Research Program Joint Call" was opened on February 6, 2024. Within the scope of the call, 233 projects were proposed and the evaluation process of the proposed projects is ongoing.
TEYDEB Supported 11 Cities Affected by February 6 Earthquakes
TUBITAK Technology and Innovation Support Programs Directorate (TEYDEB) supports project-based research, technology development and innovation activities of SME-scale organizations operating in Adana, Adıyaman, Elazığ, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Hatay, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye and Şanlıurfa provinces affected by the earthquakes that occurred on 6 February 2023 with the "1501 and 1507 Program TEKNOÇABA Special Calls". Within the scope of TEYDEB Support programs, 25 projects in the field of earthquakes have been supported with 28.3 million TL in 2024 fixed prices since August 2023.
We Will Work Together and Achieve Together Program (BİÇABA)
In order to enable undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students and postdoctoral researchers affected by the earthquakes to take part in research projects conducted or supported by TÜBİTAK, the We Will Work Together and Succeed Together Program (BİÇABA) was opened for call. Within the scope of the call, 1,317 undergraduate students, 648 graduate students, 419 doctoral students and 99 postdoctoral researchers were eligible for support. As of July 1, 2024, with the increased scholarship amounts, undergraduate students are supported with 4,800 TL per month for 6 months, graduate students with 16,500 TL per month for 12 months, PhD students with 24,000 TL per month for 24 months and Postdoctoral Researchers with 32,000 TL per month for 12 months.
Special Calls Opened in 2023 within the Scope of TÜBİTAK Scientist Scholarship and Support Programs
Earthquake Call for 2221 Guest or Sabbatical Scientist Support Program Earthquake Call for 2221 Guest or Sabbatical Scientist Support Program in order to enable researchers who continue their studies on the earthquake disaster to collaborate with international researchers,
2224-A Program for Supporting Participation in Scientific Activities Abroad - Earthquake Special Call to support researchers who want to participate in scientific activities to be organized abroad on earthquake-related topics
2224-B Program for Supporting Participation in Domestic Scientific Activities - Earthquake Special Call to support researchers who want to participate in scientific activities to be organized in Turkey on earthquake-related topics
2237-A Scientific Training Activities Support Program - Earthquake Special Call to support scientists who want to organize face-to-face or online scientific training events on earthquake-related topics
A total of 113 support decisions were made in these calls.
